Kenyan garden center ventures into farming

On his farm, Alan Kang’ethe and his people propagate and grow a wide range of pot plants such as cacti, anthuriums and begonias, streptocarpous and medinella, and even exotic orchids and other species suited for the low-light environments common in offices.

He has divided his farming operation into three competing units, thus further stimulating quality.

The Garden Centre has been in the family since the 1950s, when it was started by Kang’ethe’s late grandfather, Gitunyu, who sold to “the colonialists”.

He grew his flowers and other horticultural produce in Banana Hill, Kiambu, bringing them to the City Market, and the family’s first shop was on Market Street.

In 1969, it was bought by Kang’ethe’s father, Thomas Kahara, who took over the reins of the blooming business. Yes, blooming.

Now Alan Kang’ethe, to whom his parents in turn passed the business, runs two more branches — in Sarit Centre and Yaya Centre, and he will soon open one at the Two Rivers Mall.